Bushy, you could get a job designing Pommy aircraft...
Datalink has been used for ATC for the last dozen or so years at least.
Most commercial jets have the equivalent of a braking parachute, they are called spoilers. Not only do they cause drag, but unlike the drag chute, they dump the lift from the wing allowing the brakes to be more effective.
The QF1 accident at Bangkok was caused by the extremely poor airmanship exercised by the captain, specifically changing a go around decision on the runway and also manipulating flight controls when he was not the pilot flying.